With "The Misanthrope", the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus is staging a timeless play by Molière that pits radical truthfulness against social conventions. In a world based on politeness, diplomacy and self-dramatization, unconditional honesty meets charming double standards - and calls into question not only personal relationships but also social cohesion. Molière's comedy remains astonishingly topical: how much truth can our times bear?
Alceste is a fanatic for the truth and is radically opposed to all forms of hypocrisy and lies. His love for the charming Célimène, however, puts him to the test. How much honesty can love actually stand? And how much can society take? How much truth do we want to hear at all? What would a radical truth mean if we didn't despair of it, of the impositions of reality? Wouldn't you be an enemy of people if you were honest with them?
Premiere October 25, 2025
